There's a warning for small businesses owners who might be losing hundreds of dollars to scammers.It's happening through the mail.And with all the bills coming through this holiday season it might be tough to spot.
Business owners who've received it say it's looking and sounding like an official letter.But reading the fine print and close examination will reveal it's a total scam.
"My first instinct was to pay for it then I remembered something I'd been told a while back so I looked into it further," said small business owner Suzanne Mullen.
She got a letter in the mail asking for her a business license renewal fee.Luckily she remembered hearing a warning about this.
"There were a lot of scams regarding the renewals for the LLC's - to watch out for that - I wouldn't be getting anything in the mail," said Mullen.
Her gut was right, it was a scam that's billed more than ten million dollars from thousands of victims.
"These small business owners got a document in the mail that looked very much like a bill asking them to remit payment immediately for $175 and if they didn't pay there would be penalty," said US Postal Inspector Wynter Kugel.
Postal Inspectors received thousands of complaints and started tracking the cases.
"This mailing had no numbers, email addresses and no website there was no way to contact other than mailing your money to the post office," Kugel.
Even though it looks official, the fine print really shows you don't need to do anything at all.
"On the form - there was tiny writing that said "This is Not a Bill". I think read the fine print and really go over it before you write a check," Mullen.
Postal Inspectors identified the scammer and has stopped some of the mailings, but you can be sure that person is not the only one trying this.
Friday, May 24 2013 11:00 AM EDT2013-05-24 15:00:33 GMT
The Memorial Day Parade will start at 10:00 AM. The parade is estimated to end at 12:00 PM. The route will start at Summit & Monroe. It will proceed north on Summit Street to Jackson Boulevard west on
The Memorial Day Parade will start at 10:00 AM. The parade is estimated to end at 12:00 PM. The route will start at Summit & Monroe. It will proceed north on Summit Street to Jackson Boulevard west on
Friday, May 24 2013 8:53 AM EDT2013-05-24 12:53:50 GMT
High pressure will move in overnight tonight which will keep the clouds away and allow the winds to go calm. This will lead to unseasonably cold air Saturday morning. Lows are expected to be in the upper
A late season frost is expected Memorial Day weekend for parts of Ohio.
Thursday, May 23 2013 11:34 PM EDT2013-05-24 03:34:48 GMT
13abc and the Red Cross are teaming up for our Road to Recovery Phone Bank to provide information about helping the victims of the Oklahoma tornado and other disasters. Volunteers will be at the station
13abc and Red Cross teamed up for our Road to Recovery Phone Bank Thursday to provide information about helping the victims of the Oklahoma tornado and other disasters.
Thursday, May 23 2013 11:03 PM EDT2013-05-24 03:03:13 GMT
A Perrysburg Township packaging plant is closing this summer, affecting 126 employees at the location. We're told an agreement allowing Diamond Crystal Brands to sell Splenda sweetener will expire at
A Perrysburg Township packaging plant is closing this summer, affecting 126 employees at the location.
Thursday, May 23 2013 11:03 PM EDT2013-05-24 03:03:13 GMT
A Perrysburg Township packaging plant is closing this summer, affecting 126 employees at the location. We're told an agreement allowing Diamond Crystal Brands to sell Splenda sweetener will expire at
A Perrysburg Township packaging plant is closing this summer, affecting 126 employees at the location.
Friday, May 24 2013 11:00 AM EDT2013-05-24 15:00:33 GMT
The Memorial Day Parade will start at 10:00 AM. The parade is estimated to end at 12:00 PM. The route will start at Summit & Monroe. It will proceed north on Summit Street to Jackson Boulevard west on
The Memorial Day Parade will start at 10:00 AM. The parade is estimated to end at 12:00 PM. The route will start at Summit & Monroe. It will proceed north on Summit Street to Jackson Boulevard west on
Friday, May 24 2013 8:53 AM EDT2013-05-24 12:53:50 GMT
High pressure will move in overnight tonight which will keep the clouds away and allow the winds to go calm. This will lead to unseasonably cold air Saturday morning. Lows are expected to be in the upper
A late season frost is expected Memorial Day weekend for parts of Ohio.
Thursday, May 23 2013 11:34 PM EDT2013-05-24 03:34:48 GMT
13abc and the Red Cross are teaming up for our Road to Recovery Phone Bank to provide information about helping the victims of the Oklahoma tornado and other disasters. Volunteers will be at the station
13abc and Red Cross teamed up for our Road to Recovery Phone Bank Thursday to provide information about helping the victims of the Oklahoma tornado and other disasters.
Thursday, May 23 2013 11:10 PM EDT2013-05-24 03:10:04 GMT
MOUNT VERNON, Wash. (AP) - The Washington State Patrol says the Interstate 5 bridge over the Skagit River at Mount Vernon has collapsed, dumping vehicles and people into the water. Trooper Mark Francis
The Interstate 5 bridge over the Skagit River at Mount Vernon collapsed Thursday evening, dumping vehicles and people into the water, the Washington State Patrol said.
Thursday, May 23 2013 9:57 PM EDT2013-05-24 01:57:54 GMT
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - A proposed constitutional amendment legalizing medical marijuana and certain uses of hemp has cleared Ohio's ballot board. The panel's approval Thursday sends the issue into its
A proposed constitutional amendment legalizing medical marijuana and certain uses of hemp has cleared Ohio's ballot board.
Thursday, May 23 2013 8:40 PM EDT2013-05-24 00:40:05 GMT
PHOENIX (AP) - The jury in Jodi Arias' trial was dismissed Thursday after failing to reach a unanimous decision on whether the woman they convicted of murdering her one-time boyfriend should be sentenced
The jury in Jodi Arias' trial was dismissed Thursday after failing to reach a unanimous decision on whether the woman they convicted of murdering her one-time boyfriend should be sentenced to life or death in a case that has captured headlines worldwide with its sex, lies, violence.
Thursday, May 23 2013 8:38 PM EDT2013-05-24 00:38:38 GMT
(ABC News) -- The Boy Scouts of America today voted to lift its longtime national ban on admitting openly gay Scouts but will continue to exclude openly gay adults from leadership roles. The vote
The Boy Scouts of America today voted to lift its longtime national ban on admitting openly gay Scouts but will continue to exclude openly gay adults from leadership roles.
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